Alan Wake 2: The Lake House Review

It has been a year since the release of the amazing Alan Wake 2, and the long wait to see the infamous writer back in action has been well worth it, as the game is among the best survival horror games ever released, featuring the same amazing balance between humor and horror that makes Remedy Entertainment the development studio it is, and some truly epic sequences that will continue to resonate in video games history for a long time. For the game’s first expansion, Night Springs, the Finnish studio went all in with the humor, taking characters and scenarios from the base game and twisting them to present entertaining self-contained stories that did not take themselves too seriously.

Those who wished to experience more of the atmosphere and horror elements of the base game had to wait for the second expansion, The Lake House, which also serves to bridge the gap for what will presumably be the next single-player game set in the Remedy Connected Universe, Control 2. Undoubtedly, the second and final Alan Wake 2 expansion fully delivers its promises, but it could have been so much more, as its very short length will not be enough for most players to upgrade to the Deluxe Edition, which is currently the only way to get both expansions.

Alan Wake 2: The Lake House stars Kiran Estevez, one of the Federal Bureau of Control agents first mentioned in Control that appears in the base game. Leader of the Investigations Unit Beta, the agent was assigned to Bright Falls to investigate the paranormal phenomenons in Cauldron Lake, an investigation that culminates with the inspection of the Lake House, a clandestine research facility on the shores of Cauldron Lake used by the FBC to study the phenomenons happening in the area and their relation to the Dark Presence. Inside, Agent Estevez will get to understand what exactly was being researched in the facility, getting to know how Alan Wake’s unique powers have influenced the lives of the two doctors leading the research, all the while trying to stay ahead of the monstruosities born out of the horrible research conducted in the facility.

The story of Alan Wake 2: The Lake House fits perfectly into the base game and the Remedy Connected Universe, further exploring the themes introduced so far and bringing some elements that will likely be developed in the future, including a not subtle-at-all Control 2 tease. The expansion’s short length, barely over one hour and a half, actually plays in favor of the story, as it translates into an extremely tight pacing, which, paired with the tension ramping up from the moment agent Estevez enters the titular Lake House, makes the experience extremely engaging, especially for those heavily involved with the RCU.

The expansion’s tightly paced story is compounded by the atmosphere. The Lake House brings out the best Remedy has offered so far in terms of location design, combining the best elements of Alan Wake 2 and Control to offer a very immersive experience with amazing visual and audio production that make players actually feel inside the haunting research facility.

While Alan Wake 2: The Lake House’s short length works in favor of the story, it doesn’t do the same with gameplay. With only five floors to explore, featuring a few simple puzzles to complete, which mostly involve carrying batteries to turn the power on and deducing passwords from a few hints scattered around, and only a new enemy type, a frankly well-designed slim monstrosity coming out of the paintings scattered around the research facility, it definitely feels like the expansion ends way too soon. The final boss, at the very least, is very interesting from both a gameplay and a narrative point of view, and makes most players ask themselves who was the real monster hidden in the Lake House.

If Alan Wake 2: The Lake House was priced reasonably, it would have been a much better proposition, as it is a worthy continuation of the base game in terms of story, themes, and atmosphere. As the only way to get the expansion is by purchasing the Deluxe Edition, however, I don’t think it offers quite enough to upgrade to the more expensive edition of the game for all but the most die-hard fans of the base game and the Remedy Connected Universe.

PC version tested. Deluxe Edition code provided by the publisher.

Alan Wake 2: The Lake House

Alan Wake 2: The Lake House

With its great atmosphere and tight story pacing, Alan Wake 2: The Lake House retains the same elements that made the base game so engaging. The lack of significant new mechanics and its very short length, however, make it a worthwhile purchase only for the most die-hard fans of Alan Wake 2 and the Remedy Connected Universe.